Church Appeals Against Unprecedented Criminal Restrictions on Outreach Activities

Bread of Life Community Church in Essex is set to challenge a Community Protection Notice (CPN) issued by Colchester City Council in March 2026. The notice prohibits the church from using loudspeakers or amplified equipment and from engaging in what it describes as “intimidating behaviour” toward the public. The church denies these allegations and claims the notice represents an overreach of public-order powers.

The appeal, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, is scheduled for a two-day hearing starting on Thursday 22 October at Southend Magistrates’ Court, with the second day listed for Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 29 October. The CPN contains no geographical limit, volume threshold, or expiry date, and does not define what constitutes “intimidating behaviour.”

Since 2022, the church has gathered weekly in Colchester city centre to preach, sing hymns, distribute Christian literature and Bibles, and offer conversation and prayer to members of the public. The church also provides practical support to the local community, including collecting for a food bank, purchasing warm clothing for people in need, and offering hot meals to homeless individuals.

The CPN was initially issued following concerns about amplified sound, but the church claims the council’s intervention expanded to include the content of its Christian message. A Community Protection Warning was issued in November 2025 after council wardens demanded the church reduce amplification, despite a Public Spaces Protection Order allowing amplified sound in the area.

The council later raised concerns about theological references to judgment and hell, alleging that such messaging caused “harassment, alarm and distress.” Wardens reportedly attempted to “educate” the preachers on their content. The church argues that this marks a significant shift from addressing noise concerns to regulating the content of Christian doctrine expressed in public.

Lawyers representing the church will argue that the CPN reflects an unprecedented use of public-order powers to suppress religious expression. The church accepts that amplification was used and that some people complained about the volume, but maintains that the notice is overly broad and infringes on its right to freely express its faith. Breaching the notice is a criminal offence, meaning the pastor and members could face prosecution if the council alleges non-compliance.

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